Wanderlust: Nana Hagel's Copenhagen

Copenhagen has always hovered near the top of both of our travel wish-lists, and a week today we will finally set foot on Danish soil. As we eagerly put together lists of everything we will try to cram into the four days we have there, we decided that a local's perspective is always the best way to see a new city. We've been reading Nana's blog and double-clicking all of her instagram photos since before Assemblage was even the spark of an idea, so naturally we got in touch and asked if she would recommend her top ten things for us to do whilst we were exploring her city. Read on to discover Nana Hagel's Top Ten things to do in Copenhagen - and stay tuned as we take time to visit her choices whilst we are there.

Nana Hagel's Copenhagen

Mother - Great place for pizza in the Meatpacking District of Copenhagen. Go here on a Friday night and visit one of the many bars of the area afterwards, or come here for the amazing brunch buffet during the weekend.

Atelier September - This cafe is definitely one of the prettiest in Copenhagen! It's a popular spot for coffee and breakfast and the food is simple and delicious.

Keramik og glasværkstedet - A beautiful ceramics shop in central Copenhagen. Four Danish designers sell their items here, and the ceramicists work in the studio in the back of the shop.

Botanical Garden - Botanical Gardens are always inspiring to visit and the Copenhagen one is no exception! It's wonderfully peaceful and quiet in here.

Round Tower - Great architecture in the heart of the city. Go round and round till you reach the top and enjoy an amazing view of the city!

Studio - Michelin awarded restaurant serving new Nordic food with pretty interiors and even more beautiful dishes.

Coffee Collective - All coffee affectionados who visit Copenhagen should go here! Great coffee in a cool setting (Coffee Collective are all over town, my favorite spot in the one on Godthåbsvej). 

Østerberg Ice Cream - Experimental ice cream in the prettiest shop! Most of the ingredients are sources from Asia and Latin America and they're all delicious.

Glyptoteket - Beautiful Ancient Mediterranean collection. Get a coffee and a cake in their winter garden filled with palm trees and the prettiest dome ceiling.

Louisiana - About an hour by train from Copenhagen you will find Louisiana Museum of Modern Art with always interesting exhibitions and the most amazing location right by the sea.

Text and photographs by Nana Hagel

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-Emma 

Wanderlust: Limone, Lake Garda

La Limonaia Del Castel

The little terracotta town of Limone sits on the west shore of Italy's best-loved lake, Lake Garda, and is perfect for adventurous types looking for a relaxing break which doesn't compromise on scenery and opportunities to appreciate the great outdoors.

Being positioned in the northern half of the lake, it boasts a dramatic shoreline complete with views of Monte Baldo and the surrounding hills, which sit directly across the water.

Assemblage spent two glorious weeks here over the summer, and found it to be one of the lake's more architecturally beautiful towns, which possesses some of the most dramatic scenery we saw on the northern half of the lake.

While Limone is a popular package holiday destination, those looking to get a little more out of their trip will find themselves spoiled for choice.

From exploring the town's winding lanes and pebbled shoreline, to wild swimming in the perfect turquoise waters of nearby Lake Tenno, Italy's clearest and most lipid freshwater lake; exploring the lush vinyards of Trentino and windsurfing in Torbole - one of the continent's most popular watersports spots - or mountain biking and climbing in some of the finest mountain terrains in Europe, there could not be more on offer.

Wild swimming in Lake Tenno

But really it is the views that steal the show. The gradient of the town means many hotels are in prime position for admiring the views over the bay and the mountains on the Eastern shore opposite, where the clouds hang over the tips, leaving shadows on the hillside below.

From almost any point in the town, you only need raise your eyes to catch a glimpse of the dramatic hills hanging overhead. And with the mountainous climate bringing with it balmy evening thunderstorms, there couldn't be a more perfect place to watch the lightning fork.

Attractions

La Limonaia Del Castel

La Limonaia Del Castel - On Tuesday nights during the summer months, this restored limonaia offers late night opening, where visitors can admire the citrus trees by moonlight, enjoying enchanting views over the rooftops of Limone and the lake, limoncello tasting and live music, all for only a couple of Euros.

Windsurfing on the western coast

SurfingLino 
Spiaggia Foce fiume S. Giovanni
Get to grips with surfing Garda's famous Ora wind, which blows like clockwork from the south of the lake every day and makes the north of the lake one of the best-loved water sports spots in Europe.

Museum of Tourism 

Via IV Novembre, n. 29/L

A fine place to kill time during a wet afternoon, and worth a visit alone for the photographs of the town during its lemon-growing heyday.

Restaurants

Osteria Al Veccio Fontec
Via Della Corda, 21
This delightful restaurant is nestled in the courtyard beneath a local residence on a quiet street in the village, and offers an intimate evening. Guests are greeted with complimentary prosecco, and the menu offers an alluring array of options, including almond crusted tuna steak. £££

Osteria Da Livio

Via Tovo, 4

Nestled high in the olive groves about 15 minutes' walk from the centre of Limone, this is a locals favourite. Expect magical alfresco dining amongst olive trees, and a delectable, traditional Italian menu. ££

Osteria Al Veccio Fontec

Bar Spaghetteria Da Titano Di Fort Enea
Via Della Corda, 9
This little ristorante in the heart of Limone offers unpretentious, traditional Italian cooking at very reasonable prices. Pasta portions are enormous, and the Spaghetti Limone is a delight. £

Bars

Bar Limone
Via IV Novembre, 22
Situated on the main road leading above the old town, this buzzing hotel bar is frequented by locals, so prices are reasonable, and the chef's abilities are beyond that of many of those at the town's other osterias. Stop by on a Saturday, when the bar puts on live entertainment and a buffet of the highest order for 20 euros. 

Cherenguito
Via IV Novembre, 4
Another locals' favourite, this is the perfect place to enjoy a late night by the water. From the mellow, low lighting emitted by colour changing spherical lights, to the designer bean bags laid here and there and the generous spirit measures, the emphasis is on maximum comfort and fun.

Where to stay

Hotel Castell
Via IV Novembre, 62
This friendly establishment is built directly into the rocks on the cliff side, and boasts prime position beside the Castell de Limonaia and a mere three minutes' walk to the centre of Limone via steps beneath the hotel. The rooms, dining area, terrace and pool all offer breathtaking views over the town, lake and eastern shore, and the atmosphere is friendly and unfussy.

All photos by Abigail Outhwaite.

- Abigail

Views of the east shore from Limone, Lake Garda

The view of Limone from Hotel Castell

Art in the alleys in Limone

The beach in Limone at dusk

Views of the east shore

The beach at Limone

Wanderlust: Plitvice Lakes

Each of Plitvice's lakes varies in colour, shifting between sparkling waters in shades of aqua, turquoise and azure; each one impossibly crystal clear. As you wander along the ramshackle wooden platforms that lead you around, above and beside the numerous waterfalls, it is difficult to tear your eyes away from the hundreds of fish swimming past,  weaving their way through the most tranquil waters imaginable.

If there's a downside to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's that every bone in your body is aching to leap into the inviting waters - yet this is strictly forbidden. The site would soon lose it's natural beauty if stripped down to a glorified swimming pool; yet all the same, the lakes look incredibly enticing.

The true beauty of the national park is unveiled as you begin an uphill climb, provided constantly with breath-taking lookout points where you can admire the paths that you have previously walked. From this bird's-eye view, the cascading falls that you admired as you passed them can be seen from a completely different perspective. Nothing quite prepares you for the site of the perfectly blue pools spilling down in layers of crashing water and foam.

For the experience detailed above,  I recommend route H, which leads you around both the upper and lower waterfalls before embarking on the uphill climb back to the entrance.

Get in touch for details of how to reach Plitvice from Zagreb.

 

All photographs by Emma Lavelle

- Emma 

Curated On Film: Shorthaul Destination Cinema

In the seemingly endless window of time between booking a holiday and arriving, nothing builds anticipation quite like settling down to watch a film in which your chosen location plays a starring role.

Whether it is a raucous road trip or couple's holiday, a beach-side retreat or a city break, taking in a plot weaved around your holiday destination also serves a practical purpose, with the potential to both uncover new, must-see sights and excursions for while you are there and make visiting the sites and attractions which appear in the plot even more fun.

Here's our edit of some of Europe's most popular destinations recently depicted in English-language films.

PARIS, FRANCE

Midnight in Paris (2011) - pictured above

Woody Allen is truly one of the kings of destination cinema. And, true to his customary style, in Midnight in Paris the city plays such a key role that it is almost a character in itself. From the raucous and romantic Latin Quarter, to the towering majesty of the Palace of Versailles; the lazy flea markets to the grandeur of Musee Rodin, a seemingly never-ending list of Parisian highlights feature within this dreamy film. 

VERSAILLES, FRANCE

Marie Antoinette (2006)

If nothing else, Marie Antoinette is a stunning visual love letter to the Palace of Versailles and shows it at its resplendent best. From the sun rising over the perfect symmetry of the Grand Canal, to introducing a degree of humanity to the palace's rooms, which are otherwise missing from the museum sets in the palace we know today (take Marie Antoinette waking up in her sumptuous bedroom with a raging hangover, or the awkwardness of the couple's first night together in their bed chamber), this film is packed with sneak peaks into France's most famous palace and gardens which visitors are unlikely to witness themselves, and makes the short trip from central Paris to Versailles an absolute must-do.

BERLIN, GERMANY

Hanna (2011)

Finland, Morocco, Germany - the locations list for 2011's Hanna is both diverse and impressive. In fact, locations were so important to director Joe Wright that the film's finale was even re-written to incorporate one he felt implored to feature: Berlin's Spreepark. The eery beauty of this abandoned theme park, which lies gathering dust in the middle of the city's Treptower Park, receives significant airtime in the film's adrenalin-surging finale.

PROVENCE, FRANCE

A Good Year (2006)

While thin on plot, anyone who has dreamed of starting a new life in the French countryside will on a surface level identify with this film, which takes in the stunning countryside and romantic lifestyle which this region is so celebrated for.

BARCELONA, SPAIN

Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona (2008)

La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Park Guell...this film's set list boasts some of Barcelona's most iconic sights. And what's more, the sexually-charged storyline contains themes many travellers can identify with: from the sense of self-discovery that travel commonly provokes, to the differences that can become more pronounced between close friends during the pursuit of adventure.

VENICE, ITALY

 

The Tourist (2010)

While the plot is by no means Oscar-worthy, The Tourist follows a storyline which anyone who has travelled alone and found themselves making friends with a stranger, or daydreaming of a more exciting purpose behind their journey, will find romantic. While the storyline also takes in Paris, the climax of the film takes in Venice. Showcasing the city both by day and night, and taking in numerous highlights - including St Mark's Square and the Venice Guggenheim - it showcases the romance and glamour of this essential Italian destination.

We'd love to hear about your favourite films depicting holiday destinations - let us know in the comments section below.

- Abigail

Listography: Location Location Location

 Nate Zoller for Herschel Supply

I love to travel. As cliched as that sounds, nothing pleases me more than the anticipation of visiting a new place. I settle down with a newly purchased guide book, recommendations from friends and my trusty pal, the internet and make a loosely structured plan of what I want to see. 

There's a messily edited page in my notebook that lists the places for which my heart yearns. Some of these are constants; places that have been on my wish-list for years. Others are recent additions. Here are my top six.

 Hello America

1. America.

I'll begin with the one that's been on my list for decades. I've always wanted to visit America. When I was a child, I was jealous of school friend's trips to Florida. My teenage years found me craving the Big Apple. Now the list goes something like this: Oregon, Washington, California, Louisiana, New York State and Texas (for starters). 

The ultimate trip would be cruising along the highways in an RV; parking up whereever took our liking and eating under the stars. I want to run down gigantic white sand dunes, hang out in Portland, hike through dense forests, swim in Lake Tahoe, admire the view at Big Sur, go whale watching, walk around Haight Ashbury and drive down endless roads.

Guided by Cereal

2. Bristol/Bath
There are so many corners of the UK that I have yet to visit. Of all of those places, the South-West has been calling my name, Bristol and Bath in particular. 

Both cities seem to have a lot going for them both aesthetically and culturally. There's inspirational street art (See no Evil), feats of engineering (the Clifton suspension bridge), spas fed by natural hot springs, beautiful local countryside (not to mention the proximity of Stonehenge) and impeccably curated independent shops (Found). And only a train ride away!

Unknown, via Pinterest

3. Iceland
Everyone I know who has visited this lonely isle (Abigail included) has raved about it's otherworldlyness. There's nowhere else quite like it on earth. One of the reasons that Iceland appeals to me so is the diversity of the landscape and of the potential activities. One day you could be lazing in the blue lagoon, the next exploring the shops, bars and galleries of Reykjavik, followed by chasing waterfalls, hiking across glaciers and volcanic sand, whale watching in stormy seas and gazing down at the place where two tectonic plates collide.

Colourful toy towns, the northern lights, some of the most striking scenery on the planet and a thriving creative community beckon.

Unknown, via Pinterest

4. Provence

This one has been partially covered, as I spent two very brief days in the region en route to Barcelona earlier this summer. These fourty-eight hours of early morning markets, fresh water lakes, picturesque villages and jaw-dropping views have only stirred up an existing wanderlust for this southern French region.

I would love to visit in the height of lavender season; driving through the countryside from town to town, basking in a sea of purple fields. 

Unknown, via Pinterest

5. Scandinavia

The only issue that I would have planning a Scandinavian retreat would be choosing whether to visit Norway, Finland, Sweden or Denmark. All four countries have a deep allure, based around a fusion of dramatic landscapes and that distinctive Scandinavian design aesthetic that creeps its way into everything from interior design to fashion and art.

Proximity to water always appeals to me when planning trips; fjords and archipelagos beckon strongly. 

She Loves Mixtapes

6. Edinburgh

Back to the UK and up north to a Scottish city that I'm sure would steal my heart. Edinburgh seems to have it all: thriving nightlife, independent shops, interesting architecture, proximity to the sea and a mountainous surrounding.

August would be too obvious a time to visit, the city bustling with the festival crowd. Instead, I would love to trawl the cities streets and admire the views in Autumn, amongst a sea of sunburst hues.

-Emma